Whether you are looking to buy or invest in a new business, sell a business that you have been building up over many years or need practical legal advice on a commercial contract, we have the skills to help you.

Unfortunately from time to time differences arise between businesses, or individuals, which cannot be resolved.

Given the unfamiliar situations that disputes can create, we will provide you with fast and efficient commercial legal advice in a clear and understandable manner. This will provide you with sufficient information for you to assess your options and make informed commercial decisions.

Finding the right property for your business is paramount – all details of your property matter must be carefully considered.
That is why you’ll need a team on your side, who can guide you through the process and offer you thorough advice, to make sure that every aspect of the transaction is right for you and your business.

Our employment law service is headed up by one of our founders, Amanda Jefferies. Our team offers practical, cost-effective and tailored advice to businesses of all sizes and individuals on all aspects of employment law, from implementing compliant policies and contracts, to advising upon specific disputes within the workplace and where necessary, representing the interests of our clients in the employment tribunal or the courts.

Oh, The Crosses We Have To Bear…

With the state of world affairs today, religious fanaticism, radicalisation and hatred is a topic that can spill over into the workplace, especially into the controversial area of religious symbolism. In fact two recent cases adjudged by the European Court of Justice may have muddied the legal waters somewhat.

The ruling that gained most publicity states that banning all religious, political or philosophical symbols in the workplace isn’t direct discrimination, although specifically banning symbols from just one religion would be. This was further complicated as it also stated that, “banning religious symbols would be indirect discrimination if it had a disproportionate effect on a particular religion or belief”.

Ultimately the European Court of Justice left national courts to determine if discrimination had or had not occurred in individual cases. Unfortunately, this ruling clashed with a previous ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which ruled in 2013 that, “manifesting a religious belief is a fundamental right, partly because a healthy democratic society must tolerate pluralism. The court accepted that an employer’s wish to project a certain corporate image was also legitimate, but in that particular case, the court held that the individual’s religious freedom had been unlawfully restricted.”

Religious symbolism therefore remains a legal minefield; especially should a customer wish not to be served by a member of a particular religious affiliation. Indirect discrimination is not necessarily unlawful if it can be justified in respect of a legitimate aim, such as an employer’s desire to project an image of neutrality toward its customers, which is a legitimate aim.

Ultimately make sure you apply the same rule to all religious or philosophical viewpoints and make sure it can be justified by having previously implemented a policy of religious neutrality, before you consider banning all religious symbols in your workplace. Even then, it is probably safer just to not ban religious symbols. If you need any advice on this or any other legal matter, give us a call.

Contact Us

Whether you are looking to buy or invest in a new business, sell a business that you have been building up over many years or need practical legal advice on a commercial contract, we have the skills to help you.

Unfortunately from time to time differences arise between businesses, or individuals, which cannot be resolved.

Given the unfamiliar situations that disputes can create, we will provide you with fast and efficient commercial legal advice in a clear and understandable manner. This will provide you with sufficient information for you to assess your options and make informed commercial decisions.

Finding the right property for your business is paramount – all details of your property matter must be carefully considered.
That is why you’ll need a team on your side, who can guide you through the process and offer you thorough advice, to make sure that every aspect of the transaction is right for you and your business.

Our employment law service is headed up by one of our founders, Amanda Jefferies. Our team offers practical, cost-effective and tailored advice to businesses of all sizes and individuals on all aspects of employment law, from implementing compliant policies and contracts, to advising upon specific disputes within the workplace and where necessary, representing the interests of our clients in the employment tribunal or the courts.